Maritime snowstorm expected to bring 20 to 30 cm of snow

The first major blast of snow is headed towards the Maritimes and could dump 20 to 30 centimetres of snow in some areas on Sunday.

“[It’s] a bit early to put numbers on amounts, but it is a fairly safe bet that later on Sunday will not be suitable for travelling and that we will be shovelling,” said CBC meteorologist Peter Coade.

The storm will develop in the southeastern U.S. overnight Friday, intensifying as it tracks northeast, he said. The system will then likely develop into a nor’easter with the centre reaching the Maritimes on Sunday.

Based on current weather patterns, Coade said he expects the leading edge of Sunday’s storm to hit Nova Scotia’s southwest shore and St. Stephen, N.B., around 7 a.m.

The storm is expected to continue its track northeast, hitting Halifax, Nova Scotia’s north shore, and Fredericton by 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Coade said the storm is expected to continue to move towards Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island and Miramichi, N.B., by 11 a.m. on Sunday.

The rest of Cape Breton Island and Bathurst, N.B., should feel the impact of the storm by 1 p.m.

Coade said there’s still a possibility the snow could change to rain along the south shore of Nova Scotia and as far east as Halifax.

He also warns of blowing snow across the Maritimes with northeast winds blowing at between 60 km/h and 80 km/h.

On Monday, as the storm moves out, Coade said a trough will form in its wake over New Brunswick, dragging another area of snow across that province and P.E.I.